jovial
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
Jovial, jocose, jocular, jocund agree in referring to someone who is in a good humor. Jovial suggests a hearty, joyous humor: a jovial person. Jocose refers to that which causes laughter; it suggests someone who is playful and given to jesting: with jocose and comical airs. Jocular means humorous, facetious, mirthful, and waggish: jocular enough to keep up the spirits of all around him. Jocund, now a literary word, suggests a cheerful, light-hearted, and sprightly gaiety: glad and jocund company.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jovial
First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin joviālis “of Jupiter” (the planet, supposed to exert a happy influence), equivalent to Latin jovi- ( see Jovian) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Use jovial to describe people who show good humor and are full of joy. Santa Claus, with his constant "ho-ho-hoing" is a jovial figure. Jocose and jocular are similar words, but they refer more to things that actually cause laughter. Jovial is derived from the Late Latin Iovialis, "relating to Jupiter" — the ancient Roman god of the sky. In astrology, people born under the sign of Jupiter are said to be joyful.
Vocabulary lists containing jovial
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Words to Capture Your Joy
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"There's a lot of things she can't do, which hinders her... but she knows no different. She is so positive, happy, jovial," said Warren.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
I expected to see him in similarly jovial spirits.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
Everyone seemed jovial, leaving me to glare at my reflection in the dark train window, between stations, wondering what exactly my deal was.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
Live images streamed before the leaders arrived showed a jovial atmosphere, with several among the top brass of China's ruling Communist Party seen chatting and smiling with members of Trump's administration.
From Barron's ● May 14, 2026
She came up and touched my cheek, making some joke or other, and once we got in the car, she made sure the jovial mood kept going.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
